UFO sighted in Arlington in 1961

Summary

In February 1961, a civilian in Arlington, Virginia, reported observing an unidentified flying object. The witness, an engineer with navigation experience, described a circular object the size of a pinhead, yellow-red in color, with a vapor trail. The object appeared about 30-35 degrees above the horizon in the southwest sky and disappeared at around 80 degrees above the horizon in the northeast sky. The observation lasted approximately 90 seconds, which raised some questions about its nature. Although the characteristics matched those of a meteor, the duration of the sighting was unusually long.

The report classified the observation as "insufficient for a definitive evaluation," suggesting that no clear conclusion was reached about the object's identity. The witness used 10x50 binoculars to observe the phenomenon, adding credibility to the testimony. Although no photos were taken and radar was not used, the report was sent to the Air Technical Intelligence Center for analysis. This case is an example of how UFO reports from that era were documented with care, even when a conclusive identification was not achieved.